International Service Leads to 2014 Lindquist Award at WSU

March 18, 2014

OGDEN, Utah – For her passionate commitment to service both locally and globally, assistant professor of respiratory therapy Lisa Trujillo has been selected as the 2014 recipient of the John A. Lindquist Award at Weber State University. She will be honored at a March 26 luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Ballrooms.

Since 2005, Trujillo’s global work has concentrated on Ghana in West Africa. In her efforts to provide free health services, medical education and community health education to the country’s underserved, she has collaborated

with WSU’s departments of geography, computer science and business as well as with Ghanaian entities from hospitals and schools to e-waste centers.

“The Lindquist Award, which was established in 2007, is one of WSU’s most prestigious honors,” said WSU Vice President for Student Affairs Jan Winniford. “It recognizes faculty and staff who have demonstrated sustained and outstanding commitment to mentoring WSU students in learning through community engagement.”

Trujillo (right) with Ghanaian pulmonologist Audrey Forson.

As part of her doctoral program, Trujillo focused on

introducing the profession of respiratory therapy to the Ghanaian medical community. After nearly two years of meetings, discussions and approvals, the University of Ghana will soon begin accepting students into a baccalaureate respiratory therapy program.

“Part of their preparation has included sending physicians to join the WSU respiratory therapy department for semester-long training, which will aid the future Ghanaian faculty and physician mentors in understanding the scope and breadth of practice of this profession,” Trujillo wrote in her acceptance letter. “The development of this partnership will lead to additional opportunities for WSU students to engage their fellow students in Ghana through collaborative learning and research.”

Trujillo’s work and projects have made a tremendous impact not only on those individuals who are being served but also upon those who are providing the service.

“I have learned through her teaching that everyone needs care regardless of his or her geographical location,” wrote WSU student Spencer Boyce in his recommendation letter. “I have the resources to make a difference, and Dr. Trujillo has facilitated an opportunity for me to do so.”

Trujillo embeds community engaged learning — or community service — in the courses she teaches.
She enables her students to teach locally about respiratory health, basic life support and disease prevention; to create personal service projects with community providers; and to involve themselves at the state level with legislative activities and rallies relating to tobacco regulation at the state Capitol.

One student group in the REST 4620 Health Promotions independent project course developed a community-based support group for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Trujillo introduced the groups to the Alan E. and Jeanne N. Hall Endowment for Community Outreach, and mentored them through the grant application process.

“With her support, our group received a $5,000 grant,” WSU student Elizabeth Wilson wrote in a nomination letter. “Because of Lisa’s help in making our dream a success, we are now capable of perpetuating the learning and benefit of community service to future students.”

The award is named for John A. Lindquist, a strong advocate of education and the community, who spent a lifetime supporting Ogden, Weber County and Weber State. Lindquist’s ties to WSU date back to the late 1930s, when he attended Weber College and was a student body officer. Throughout his lifetime, he generously supported cultural, academic, athletic and student activities and programs.

During the 2012-13 school year, 80 professors, in addition to Trujillo, taught 227 community engaged learning (CEL) designated courses. Of WSU’s student population, 31.6 percent registered and completed 147,921 service hours through the Center for Community Engaged Learning, worth an estimated $2.7 million.